Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
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2024 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614 b/t Armitage Ave & Dickens Ave
Lincoln Park, DePaul - Get Directions
- Phone number (773) 935-5000
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Business website cafebabareeba.com
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“What we tried: Bacon-wrapped Dates, Spicy Potatoes, Baked Goat Cheese, some kind of salmon?” in 405 reviews
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“The spicy potatoes are also much but I must say I never feel like I Have to go the paella.” in 264 reviews
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“*Stuffed mushrooms with manchego and spinach- great for vegetarians and non-veggies alike!” in 85 reviews
Recommended Reviews
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8/12/2015
I attended a Bridal Shower here at 11am last Sun morning. The place was still fairly empty with guests scattered about in all different areas of the restaurant for breakfast/brunch/sangria. I love the building itself. There are all these different seating areas and hallways, brick and dark and intimate. Nice outdoor dining area also.
The waitstaff was AMAZING. We had two servers. One guy welcomed me into the private dining room and was so pleasant and accommodating. Sangria, coffee and Orange Juice were served. Both servers were efficient and attentive all through our party from 11-2. Really great and refreshing.
Small plates were served. Starting with argula salad and bacon wrapped figs. Chicken and sausage skewers and spicy potatoes with the most amazing aioli accompaniments. Garlic toast with goat cheese in marinara and stuffed mushrooms. All very tasty and light since you get a very tiny plate of your own to dine from. I enjoyed it very much.
I will be back. -
- Catherine Z.
- Ann Arbor, MI
- 42 friends
- 10 reviews
8/11/2015
Listed in Chicago AdventuresWe came here on a Sunday for brunch around 11 am. The restaurant was larger than I had expected and there were plenty of empty tables, but these began filling up as we were leaving around noon. Despite its size, it's still quite cozy and has great ambiance.
I can't speak to the authenticity of the food, but we were definitely impressed, particularly by the sausage-fried paella rice. Still reminiscing about the perfectly charred sausage bits. The poached egg on top makes it acceptable for breakfast, and when mixed in, makes the rice so creamy! We also ordered the pinxtos platter which was gorgeously presented on a wooden paddle, and the buttermilk waffle with marcona almond, nutella and bananas. You can definitely taste the salt in their french toast and waffles, but the sweet syrup balances it out nicely.
My boyfriend tried their Bloody Mary bar which was a lot of fun! You get to choose from a glass of vodka/bourbon/gin/tequila and add your own juice and add-ins. They have everything from your classic celery stick to bacon strips to cocktail shrimp on skewers. Would recommend if you like Bloody Marys.
In the middle of our meal, we ordered the buttermilk-fried chicken thighs from their limited dinner menu. This took a few extra minutes to come out compared to the rest of our dishes (which were brought to our table within 10 minutes of ordering). The chicken was good with a tangy sauce that made for a nice contrast, but nothing spectacular. Our waitress apologized several times for the delay, and also brought us complimentary desserts (pear sorbet and caramelized banana). Ended our meal on a sweet note. Needless to say, impressive service!
I love that you get to try a variety of food without breaking the bank. Everything is very reasonably priced and some of the portions are quite substantial. I can't wait to go back to try their other menus (especially the other paella varieties).-
Caramelized Banana - it's like creme brûlée but healthier...Caramelized Banana - it's like creme brûlée but healthier... - See all photos from Catherine Z. for Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
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- Courtney O.
- San Diego, CA
- 141 friends
- 125 reviews
- Elite ’15
8/10/2015
1 check-inThree years ago, I studied abroad in Madrid and I can't seem to shake off my love of Spanish cuisine. When a friend suggested Cafe Ba ba reeba, I was immediately sold. He promised it tasted authentic and I couldn't wait to try!
It did not disappoint!! We ordered the croquetas, buratta, garlic potato salad and paella con pollo y verduras. I have absolutely no complaints. It was all so good! The croquetas came with a blend of ham and chicken. They were crispy and delicious! I especially loved the garlic potato salad. It was a simple dish that was packed with garlicky flavor! (tip: you might not want to order this if you're on a first date).
The paella was perfect! I'm usually picky about whether or not the flavors are right or the rice is quality but this was everything and more. A server brings out the paella in a large pan and mixes it at your table. The portions are then served out and they are huge! You have to order a minimum of two servings but if you're getting tapas as well, the two servings could easily feed more than two people! So delicious!
Oh and how could I forget about the drinks! We ordered half a pitcher of white sangria between the two of us and it was the perfect refreshing addition to our meal.
Make sure to check in on yelp to get a free dessert. I was obsessed with the caramel custard. It had the perfect creamy consistency and completely satiated my sweet tooth!-
Chicken and vegetable paella. Minimum order is two servings. This is one!Chicken and vegetable paella. Minimum order is two servings. This is one!
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- Karolina T.
- Chicago, IL
- 48 friends
- 150 reviews
- Elite ’15
7/29/2015
1 check-inI've been wanting to come here for a long time and we finally made it out on Wednesday for happy hour at the bar. They had $3 tapas so we got to try a ton of different things. My favorite was the bacon wrapped dates. It was a combination of sweet and savory but really bold flavored! We also had the ham croquet, chicken empanada, meatballs, and the mushroom toast thingy. They were all small flavorful bites. My bf also had the grilled octopus but was disappointed that it was a bit too salty. We also order the pork paella. It came out really hot and well seasoned. Overall, ton of food!
Since we were there, we absolutely had to try the sangria! We had a pitcher of the white peach one, and it was one of the best sangrias I have tried. I also wanted to try another one and the bartender was nice enough to give me samples of them all. So my second favorite was the black raspberry followed by the passion fruit. The plain red was my bfs favorite, it really has that red wine flavor! And the sangria of the day was mango which was a little too sweet for me. I would definitely come back here for just drinks and small bites at the bar. -
7/30/2015
1 check-inListed in 2015 Yelp 100 ChallengeFour stars for food, but their service ups it to five.
FOOD: Not usually the biggest fan of tapas because I leave hungry, but their portions are huge! For veggies, I liked the spinach & manchengo-stuffed mushrooms. For seafood, I liked the grilled octopus, citrus-cured salmon, and bay scallops empanada. If you really want to be stuffed, get the paella; they claim one order serves two, but the serving size is way bigger. I liked the seafood paella because the bay scallops are so soft and tender; however, my cousins liked the chicken.
DRINKS: Mango sangria, end of story. There's fruit - it's healthy.
DESSERT: Pear sorbet. Again, fruit - healthy. SO healthy.
SERVICE: They accommodated our party of 13 extremely well, even though we stayed past closing. Case in point: They forgot to place one order, but brought it out much later during the meal - on the house. They were also great with us using so many free Yelp dessert check-ins. -
7/28/2015
On a recent trip to Chicago my bf and I met up with my cousin's wife for dinner at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba. SEVERAL people had recommended it to me, so we were excited to try it!
The food was stellar. Some of the scrumptious plates we shared included the goat cheese baked in tomato sauce with garlic bread; fried green peppers & course salt (YA'LL THESE WERE SO INEXPLICABLY GOOD); spicy potatoes with tomato aioli; and mushroom, toast, aged roncal cheese & sherry gastrique. The food was truly delightful.
Also I apologize for my likely misuse of semicolons in my food descriptor sentence. There's no way that sentence is grammatically correct.
The fun environment and delicious food make for a fantastic dinner! -
8/3/2015
Came here for my birthday yesterday and it was beyond perfect. Cafe baba Reba is one of my favorite restaurants so it was obviously a no brainier to take my family here. I worked with Michelle from the event staff to get everything planned. A big thank you to Michelle. She helped me customized a menu of all my favorite things. Hands down my most favorite lettuce entertain you restaurant. Our waiter was great! The management was great! The front hostess not so great (but everything can't be perfect) the menu appealed to everyone bc I included a little bit of everything with the help of Michelle. The food was absolutely delicious, the sangrias were amaze balls (red and mango). I couldn't of hoped for a more perfect birthday dinner.
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- Tiffany L.
- Chicago, IL
- 6 friends
- 39 reviews
- Elite ’15
7/27/2015
1 check-inLoved the food and the ambiance.
Stuffed mushrooms: my only qualms about this dish was the heat--when it got to us, it was somewhat lukewarm, which made me think that these are made in large batches and kept hot rather than made fresh. However, the flavors were fantastic--loved the spinach and breadcrumb filling, and the cheese topped everything off very nicely. Would definitely order again.
Short ribs: extremely tender and very nicely done.
Scallop empanadas: my favorite entree of the night. The puff pastry was perfectly rich and flaky, and the scallop filling was light, fragrant, and delicious all around.
Grilled octopus: lovely pairing with the vinaigrette, but a little to salty for my taste. The cook on the octopus was very nicely done--tender and not too chewy, as is my issue with octopus generally.
Seafood paella: this was the one dish I would definitely do without. While there was a rather generous dose of scallop and shrimp, I found it way too salty, not to mention I was already pretty full from the other tapas we ordered.
For dessert, my friend and I got the butterscotch custard and the vanilla bourbon chai ice cream. 10/10 would recommend the ice cream--I loved how the flavors of the bourbon and chai combined. There was a nice balance between the two, allowing the bourbon to dominate but not overpower the chai and vanilla flavors. The ice cream also came with a fig cookie on the side, which I wasn't a huge fan--the ice cream was definitely the star of the dish, and I found the cookie a bit out of place. I also enjoyed the butterscotch custard, which had a very nice, strong butterscotch flavor, but after a while I found it a bit too sweet for me.
Overall, really enjoyed the tapas as well as the dessert tapas--I love tasting different foods and entrees, and Cafe Babareeba offers a large selection of high quality flavors (if a bit on the heavier side) to choose from. -
7/25/2015
This place has a great "feel" to it as far as I'm concerned. it's a lot of fun with a terrific atmosphere in a great neighborhood.
The food is average to above average. I certainly don't think it's worth the hype it receives. The seafood is alright, not fantastic I wouldn't say it's the best available. They do some sincerely unique things with their food and I do love manchengo cheese, but somehow it all just falls short. The flavors just don't seem to combine as well as they could. It's like they're "almost there" but not quite there. They use lots of garlic, which is admirable. I would have just hoped for something a little more unique given the reputation.
This isn't my best review, more general than normal, but I believe it's nonetheless accurate.
DEFINITELY worth a visit. it's a fun place, and a good time. It is in the ballpark of authentic tapas. I guess I just had better stuffed dates at Hubbard Inn and of course, Avec, better empanadas at Habana Libre, and better shrimp at the now defunct, "1492". -
- J. Spencer M.
- Chicago, IL
- 284 friends
- 88 reviews
- Elite ’15
7/13/2015
Tapas Extrordionaire!! This restaurant was packed on a Thursday night when my date and I went for the first time. The service was well organized and we were seated for our reservation early and approached by our server immediately. The menu consisted of 50-60 items in true Tapas style.
There were micro-bites that cost $1 a piece. We started with one of each. They were all delicious. We then started ordering regular tapas. Blue Cheese steak was one of the stand-outs, we ordered some ceviche dish that was great. Honestly all of the tapas were crafted with care and tasted awesome.
I returned a second time with a larger group and had a 5 star experience yet again. This place is boss. If you're looking for some perfect tapas, look now further -
- Minh-An C.
- Long Beach, CA
- 635 friends
- 700 reviews
- Elite ’15
5/11/2015
1 check-inListed in Journeys in Chi TownBa-ba-ba-barbara ann...wait, I mean, Reeba! I LOVE THIS PLACE!
My party of 5 came here for dinner around 6 PM and the wait for a table was about 45 minutes so we decided to just grab a table at the bar area. The tables at the bar area is first come, first serve and they still offer the entire menu of the restaurant. Shortly after we ordered our food, I got a text saying our table was ready on the restaurant side but we decided not to move.
We ordered a bunch of food and it all came out very quickly besides the paella, which the waiter did warn us that it would take about 30-40 minutes to cook.
We also got the peach sangria 1/2 pitcher to split between 4 people and that was more than enough. It was so yummy and not too strong at all.
Citrus Salmon: It was a spread of salmon with citrusy round thing and you eat it with the bread that's provided. It was interesting and I love salmon so it was a new twist to it.
Pork Skewer: DELICIOUS, I wished we had more of it. Juicy and very flavorful. It came it two skewers with about 3 cubes of meat on the skewer so it was just enough for each of us.
Scallop Empanada: My friends and I loved this dish! The filling of the empanada just melts in your mouth.
Sea Scallops: I personally thought this was a bit too bland for my liking.
Octopus: LOVED this dish. I thought the octopus was grilled just perfectly and it was deliciously seasoned, not too overpowering in taste.
Short Ribs: This piece of meat was just heaven, it melts in your mouth and oh so succulent. The mashed potatoes that came with it was one of the best I've ever had!
Paella: the paella came out right on time, shortly after we finished all the tapas and had a few minutes to digest the food a bit. It is a minimum of two orders and it was just enough to split between five people. I likd the paella but I was a bit full towards the end so I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.
DESSERTS: Yelp had a super awesome offer of a free dessert w/ check in so we got 3 orders: Flan, apple empanada, and the banana one; our favorite ranked as Banana, apple empanada, flan. But TBH, they were alll very yummy!
The total bill for the seven orders and sangria came out to roughly $27 a person after tax and tip, which is reasonable (considering we got free desserts!!). It is better to eat with a bigger group so you can try a bit of everything.
PRO:
+free parking across the street, if you're lucky
+they will text you when your table is ready
+bar area is first come, first serve so snatch an open table if you see one
+great service, great food, yummy drinks!
+FREE desserts w/ Yelp check in and they don't limit the amount of free desserts/table so get everyone at your table to check in!! -
5/15/2015
I've been coming here for many years, and I have yet to order something off the menu that I don't like. This was the first tapas bar I ever tried, and they still have my favorite sangria. A couple pointers:
1. Their bacon wrapped dates are the bomb. Get them. Trust me, just get them.
2. Great sangria, you really can't go wrong with any flavor but try their cava sangria or white peach sangria to mix it up.
3. Try the pintxos platter to get a little bite of everything for a reasonable price - 6 tapas for 11$
4. Spicy potatoes with tomato alioli, beef skewer with horseradish cream and red onions, serrano ham and garlic potato salad are some of our favorites.
I have been returning here for 5 years now, it is a tapas staple with consistently good food and service.-
The pintxos platter: chorizo wrapped medjool date & cheese, shrimp, tuna toast (now mushroom toast) deviled egg, fried croquetteThe pintxos platter: chorizo wrapped medjool date & cheese, shrimp, tuna toast (now mushroom toast) deviled egg, fried croquette
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5/21/2015
Delicious brunch on the weekends. Very busy place so try to make reservations, but there are enough tables you just might get a walk-in spot or you can just sit at the bar (and get full food service).
Citrus french toast best item we had, nice thick toast with a great goat cheese and honey spread. It also came with some maple syrup but didn't need it. The meatballs were delicious, and the sauce was great on the free bread. Paella is large and takes time, but seems to be worth it if you know that's something you like. Skip the papas bravas, looks tasty but the seasoning and the aioli are both bland.
And if you have a sweet tooth I recommend visiting Annette's Italian Ice a few blocks west (by the Armitage CTA stop)-
Papas bravas and what's left of citrus french toastPapas bravas and what's left of citrus french toast
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7/16/2015
1 check-inI really liked this place! Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba has brunch options along with everything else. It's so perfect. I went for their brunch but also ordered a couple of dinner options. I ordered the hash (amazing with the egg and oozing yolk on top!), scallops (this was okay), beef short rib (really tender), pork belly kabob (pretty good), and the octopus (this was my favorite). I also ordered their sangria and a chocolate tart cake with vanilla ice cream. Service was also very good!
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6/23/2015
2 check-insListed in Chicago guest-wowers!Tapas for brunch is a great breakaway from the traditional, and it's a very fun and group-friendly choice! I've only been for brunch and the wait isn't bad. On a Saturday, it meant around 45 minutes, and that's plenty of time to get a head start on their sangrias on tap. Brunch comes with its own tapas menu, though you can order from the standard menu. Prices are reasonable for the tapas size and quantity. Flavors are fantastic and varied. There were only a few items I wouldn't get again, like the baby shrimps and grits.
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7/10/2015
1 check-inOur second trip here and we were not disappointed. Samantha our waitress was awesome and she gave our daughter a fantastic dessert plate....This place is cozy well designed and I beg someone who is In the rest biz on long island NY open one of these up Pleeeez.....
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6/25/2015
1 check-inSo I've travelled to Spain.. Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid Sevilla & this by far blows foods in those countries out of the water. Seriously. Everything was extremely flavorful & delicious. Best Spanish placed I've eaten so far & surpasses Cafe Iberico.
I highly recommend the seafood paella. I had seafood paella in Valencia (where paella originated) & this restaurant surpasses Valencia's 110%. I loved the garlic potatoes, octopus, spicy shrimp tapas. (Sorry I can't be more specific) Everything on the menu is great honestly. You can't go wrong.
Definitely get the pitcher of Mango Sangria. You don't taste the alcohol & it has just the right amount of apples & lemons to deliver a delicious balanced taste.
In addition, service was great. The waitress accidentally gave away our octopus to the table behind us and she immediately reordered & took it off the bill for us.
Definitely a great place to go for a celebration/client lunch outing/fancy - casual dinner! -
8/1/2015
This place used to get an F and was full of Schaumburg a few years ago, but I think they upgraded their chef. Lots of good stuff: steak skewers great, shaved Brussels sprout salad, and very nice octopus dish moves this place up to a 4. Calamari is standard but aioli is good. Chicken thigh bites are avg. Cocktail list is copy cat and the drinks are only ok, but sangria is good. Worth revisiting if you gave up like us a few years ago!
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6/12/2015
1 check-inBack in the mid to late 2000s, I used to come here and spend a lot of money on not a lot of food (although delicious). Fast forward almost 10 years, and nothing has changed. The plates are so small and light, you need to handle them with delicate hands. If you've got the shakes, your food will go flying off your plate. You've been warned!
Go to Cafe Iberico for larger portions. Dishes are a notch below Ba Ba Reeba's regarding authenticity and taste, but you will get more value! Or try Black Bull, although it's a smaller restaurant with a slightly more avant garde take on common Spanish dishes. -
- Vanessa Y.
- Chicago, IL
- 102 friends
- 51 reviews
7/15/2015
The wait on a weekend night is loooonng, but well worth it.
We arrived around 7pm on a Saturday night and were told 45 minutes. No big, we hung out by the bar and had a couple of tasty cocktails. By the time our table was ready, I was nice and happy.
Robust, intriguing menu with all kinds of tapas AND a gluten free version! We got:
-Scallops
-Beef kabob
-Chicken curry salad
-Burrata salad
-Short rib w/ mashed potato
-Chocolate flourless cake
Everything was excellent, but my favs were the chicken curry salad and the short rib (and the cake, obvs).
Server was attentive and knowledgeable, complimentary basket o' bread was warm and delicious, and the lighting made everyone look hotter.
Will definitely return!-
Burrata, chicken curry salad (best in the Midwest), beef kabobBurrata, chicken curry salad (best in the Midwest), beef kabob
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6/15/2015
1 check-inSuper sweet brunch spot in Chi-town! Best to go with a group of 4+ that way you can try all the delicious noms! I don't recall every dish we tried but here were the highlights:
-Deviled Eggs and jamon serrano - our favorite of the Pintxos items! The filling was super smooth and flavorful and the crispy jamon made this over-the-top; we ordered a second round of deviled eggs because they're THAT good.
-Iberico Ham Hash: I shamelessly have a serious love for canned corned beef hash and this dish is the luxe, pimped up version of a childhood favorite. The poached egg soaks into all the crispy bits of ham and potato and oh my word that HAM. Iberico Jamon is generally regarded as the best ham in the world so yeah, it's DECADENT.
-Baked Eggs with Romescu Sauce: definitely one of the more unique (and beautiful!) egg dishes I've had which is served with a red pepper sauce from Catalonia. Hearty and healthy!
-Citrus French Toast with goat cheese butter: a slightly lightened up version of traditional French toast and it's a great balance of sweet, tangy, and zesty
Don't forget to wash everything down with a pitcher of their sangria!
This place is perfect for groups and people of all ages, there was even a brunch wedding reception taking place when we were there! So yes, be sure to roll in with a large entourage. The more, the merrier at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! -
- Cinthya Q.
- Logan Square, Chicago, IL
- 22 friends
- 50 reviews
- Elite ’15
4/19/2015
1 check-inMy all time favorite tapas place in Chicago.
I love the outdoor seating in the summer and the coziness in the winter. The servers are friendly and always have suggestions if you're stumped on what to get.
My favorite tapas are...
The patatas bravas are delicious! The aioli that is served with the potatoes is very tasty.
The bacon wrapped dates so delicious! I wish there we're more on the plate.
The beef short ribs with mashed potatoes are so good but come in such a small portion it can't be shared. Well, maybe others can share them.
The champiñones (stuffed mushrooms) are stuffed with manchengo cheese and overall deliciousness in a mini cup.
The goat cheese is devine; a perfect mixture of tartness and sweetness.
The croquetas and the empanadas are served with two delicious aiolis. We usually try the cheese and chicken varieties.
The sangria tho.... It's so good. If they have the mango sangria get it. While the red and white sangria are great staples the specialty sangria are executed perfectly.
Dessert: all of them! But really, that butterscotch shot is so creamy and delicious I want some right now.
Love this place so much I had my wedding shower here. -
- Lexie G.
- Chicago, IL
- 14 friends
- 31 reviews
8/2/2015
Went for brunch this morning and got the Citrus French toast and the big portion of the palatas bravas. they were amazing ! Wish there was a little more of the goat cheese butter and honey but I'd order this again and the potatoes too! The potatoes are the perfect amount of crispy and seasoned and whatever the sauce is that they put with it-mayonnaise based and a little spicy? I'm not sure but we almost ordered a third order because of how delicious it was. I've been for dinner too but that was a year ago and I can't even remember what I got but it was quite tasty that I came back willingly! They are good about splitting checks too.
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Citrus French toast and palatas bravas (bigger option) AMAZINGCitrus French toast and palatas bravas (bigger option) AMAZING
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- Lucy W.
- Seattle, WA
- 77 friends
- 31 reviews
7/4/2015
1 check-inCame here because of the raving reviews. However the food was lackluster.
We ordered the octopus, but it came out burnt. The service was good in that the server came out with another plate right away, but the second plate was still semi-burnt. We also tried the seafood paella. It was good, but not the best I've had. The rice was soft and crunch at the same time, but I wish we had more seafood and more flavoring.
Tip: check in and get the free dessert. The banana dessert was definitely the highlight of the meal.
Overall good service and good dessert, but the food overall was uninspiring.-
The banana dessert was absolute delicious - definitely the highlight of the meal.The banana dessert was absolute delicious - definitely the highlight of the meal.
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- Genevieve T.
- Morris, IL
- 5 friends
- 22 reviews
8/13/2015
1 check-inBest bruschetta EVER!!! The chunks of garlic and tomato were awesome and I loved that it was not crunchy cracker bread, it was soft and delicious. Had the skirt steak, was really yummy. The owner came around and poured tequila into our mouths which was really fun. Outdoor seating is nice
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- P 3.
- Chicago, IL
- 0 friends
- 26 reviews
7/24/2015
Best tapas in Chicago. This place has great service, nice atmosphere, and the food is great. Wide variety of dishes, which are all flavorful and great. I would suggest the Paella - it takes 30-40 min, so order some tapas meanwhile; it's worth the wait.
Great place to take friends from out of town. -
5/26/2015
1 check-inTapas, galore!! I needed 30 minutes to try and choose what I wanted to order and even then had a hard time narrowing it down. We had a party of 6 with each person ordering 2-3 dishes so a TON of food. I got to try most of it and everything (besides the empanada I ordered- blah) I tasted was absolutely delicious and unlike any other food I have ever had. I especially loved the deviled eggs, stuffed mushrooms and garlic shrimp. Loved the diversity and uniqueness of this place.
We sat on the very cute patio and our service sucked. It took TWO hours for lunch and we just wanted to get out of there so bad by the time we were finished but our waitress wasn't going to let that happen. She had the personality of a wet mop and couldn't manage to get any of our checks right.The manager stood by the computer for about 20 minutes trying to help her ( she still got it wrong when she brought the checks out) and neither one of them approached our table to apologize or explain the confusion. She couldn't even muster up a "sorry it took so long, have a nice day" by the end of it all. NOTHING. Very poor service and management.
I still wanted to give 4 stars for everything else aside from service and would definitely give it another shot and hope for a better overall experience. -
- Lamees M.
- Cincinnati, OH
- 0 friends
- 1 review
8/13/2015
We had the worst waitress ever! She gave such a nasty attitude. I'm not sure why?! The food is great as always. But she made our experience the worst. We kept wondering what's wrong! She gave us a poker face without any feedback when we ask about things. Maybe she had a bad day, but should we go through this?
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2/21/2015
1 check-inMy wife and I ate at Ba Ba Reeba before attending a concert at "The Riv" (aka stinky shit hole). We have eaten at BABAReeba before, but we were really rushed and I wasn't addicted to Yelp at the time, so this is my first review...
We ate at like 4 PM, so the place was empty. We sat by the windows in the bar and it was cold as hell. The server was the bartender and he was kinda meh, and was gone for significant swatches of time. So whatever, it was between shifts so I figured we would get B- service, no big deal.
We ordered several items from the tapas menu. They were all great. I would rate Baba as my third favorite tapas resaurants behind Meson Sabika (#1) and Bien Trucha (#2).
We had a pleasant experience and it was the beginning of a great weekend! -
5/22/2015
1 check-inAlways a fan of this place when I have a group of people who need a good, reasonably priced place to eat. Most of my friends enjoy the idea of small plates and trying a bunch of different foods, so this is perfect.
Sangria is always good, I stick with the traditional red sangria which seems to be drier in comparison to the others (although still sweet).
Service is always good, food is great, very accommodating for larger groups! -
- Sallyann Z.
- Chicago, IL
- 45 friends
- 58 reviews
- Elite ’15
3/9/2015
2 check-insCafe Ba-ba-reeba is a crowd pleaser hot spot, great for large groups! The Spanish tapas and flavorful sangrias made for a perfect girls night out/birthday dinner. We did have some issues with reservations and having to wait for a table to clear out for our party of 10 on a Thursday night, but the staff was apologetic and gave us a free bottle of sangria.
Our waiter was helpful in suggesting how many dishes to order and how much sangria. We got three bottles of sangria and I was a HUGE fan of the blood orange and blackberry - all about the fruit ones! As for the food, we all ordered a couple of dishes and we're just blown away by how tasty everything was. Garlic shrimp, spinach and manchego stuffed mushrooms, scallops and spicy potatoes were my top favorites.
We showed the waiter our Yelp checkin for the free dessert tapa and because it was my roommate's birthday, he actually brought out a whole platter of all the desserts with a candle and a sweet message. So perfect!! The desserts were to die for - esp the pumpkin ice cream sandwich and butterscotch custard. Man, oh man!
Overall, a fun tapas restaurant with delicious food and lively ambiance. I'll definitely be back again for sangria and to try the paella!-
Shrimp with garlic, olive oil and red pepper - decadent!Shrimp with garlic, olive oil and red pepper - decadent! -
Chicken with eggplant, eggplant, arugula and couscous... Pass next time for the other, more exciting dishes on the menuChicken with eggplant, eggplant, arugula and couscous... Pass next time for the other, more exciting dishes on the menu - See all photos from Sallyann Z. for Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
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5/24/2015
1 check-inI loved this place! We have only had the opportunity to hit two Spanish style tapas places in Chi-town, so this review is based on my experience at these places, as well as my recent ones in Spain.
Everything that we had here was pretty darn good. The service was excellent as well. I can recommend the following: Deviled egg, Chorizo wrapped medjool date, Catalan bread, Patatas bravas, sea salted green peppers, calamari, Tortilla espanola,
Shrimp with garlic olive oil, Roast dates with bacon and apple, the Albondigas, Skewered chicken and chorizo sausage and red sangria. We were skeptical about how good (or bad) this place would be after a failed tapas experience on Friday night somewhere else. We were more than delighted here!
I would highly recommend this place! -
- Hayden R.
- San Francisco, CA
- 0 friends
- 35 reviews
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- Rebecca S.
- Baltimore, MD
- 111 friends
- 172 reviews
- Elite ’15
5/11/2015
1 check-inSo good!!
We went for my best friends birthday dinner and I nearly exploded, we ordered so much.
First, get the BLOOD ORANGE SANGRIA. You will kick yourself if you don't. So sweet. The best part is the alcohol-y fruit.
The tapas were really great and authentic. Totally brought me back to Spain! Loved the cheeses and meats. The paella was rather good and not too heavy. We ordered about one plate per person at the table plus an order of the chicken paella, and it was far more than enough--almost too much.
Overall, it was a bit expensive but worth the money. The extra few bucks were definitely made up for with the quality. -
- Azhar S.
- Bartlett, IL
- 11 friends
- 68 reviews
7/27/2015
This place is pretty cool if you like tapas style food. This place is definitely lively and energetic for certain. Our waiter was very kind, patient and informative.
There was a group of us and so we went around the table and ordered chicken, spicy potatoes, a little salad, drinks and some dessert after wards and the taste was good. It's definitely a new experience for me since I've never been to a tapas place before.
The highlight for me was the spicy potatoes. Very good and had a very unique taste to them and highly recommend them.
Parking the night we went was very tough, but I got lucky and finally found a spot after looking for 45 minutes. Definitely leave early if you're gonna try make your reservations on time. -
- SeanSean P.
- Urbana, IL
- 72 friends
- 7 reviews
7/12/2015
Quick Summary
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Delicious tapas at a great price with consistently some of the best service I've experienced in any restaurant. As with any popular Chicago spot, reservations are highly recommended, as walk-in wait time can be long, but once sat, service is incredibly fast. Highly recommended: #44 (shrimp with garlic), #67 (bacon wrapped dates), seafood paella, and any flavor of sangria.
Intro
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This has become my favorite restaurant in Chicago, and my 5-star rating isn't a case of severe fanboyism, but is a distinction well-earned through repeated visits. I've been to Spain and loved the food there, so I was very excited to try. The first time I went was with a couple friends, and I was very impressed with the quality of food, drinks, and service. It's not the most authentic Spanish cuisine, but the inspiration and heart is there.
Setting
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Very warm and cozy. However, the restaurant is huge and there's so much activity going on around it can be loud and hectic. Added bonus: hanging Iberican hams for that authentic Spanish touch!
Service
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Despite the craziness of all that's going on during a busy night, my table has never been neglected or forgotten. Food comes out in blazing fast times after ordering. The bussers are attentive in clearing your dishes and refilling your drinks. Everyone seems happy to serve you.
Food
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There are so many different tapas, I will highlight the ones I've particularly enjoyed.
Roast dates with bacon & apple vinaigrette: Bacon wrapped dates has been overdone to oblivion but the apple vinaigrette is a nice complement that sets it apart. Second-best bacon wrapped dates I've had (sorry Ba-Ba-Reeba, but the honor of #1 goes to Avec!)
Seafood paella: Has a generous amount of shrimp, scallops, and monkfish. I despise green beans but I don't even care that they're in this dish, it's absolutely delicious. The rice has the perfect consistency.
Burrata with tomatoes, charred sweet corn, and avocado: A great marriage between all the different ingredients. The char on the corn brings an appreciated depth to the dish, and the cheese is very fresh. Vibrant and light!
Shrimp with garlic: They are unapologetic with the garlic. A blast of flavor will spread over your entire palette as you meditate on the texture of the perfectly cooked shrimp. Dip your bread in the leftover oil. It is liquid gold.
Caramelized banana: I can inhale ten orders of these if I wanted to. All desserts here are delicious but this one in particular is fantastic. Great toasty flavor from the caramel while never overpowering the banana. Texture contrast provided by pistachios. Temperature contrast provided by the ice cream. A delight to the senses.
Sangria: I hate sangria. I love Ba-Ba-Reeba's sangria. Five great permanent flavors with a rotating seasonal flavor. Do yourself a favor and get a pitcher... for yourself.
Other notes
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What? They have a brunch you say? Admittedly I have not gone there for brunch service. I will have to make the effort to try it out. Check out their rewards program. Though Lettuce Entertain You does require money up front, you receive credit through your first several visits to make up for it.
Conclusion
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I applaud the staff at Ba-Ba-Reeba, both front-of-house and back-of-house. It is a well-tuned machine that operates efficiently amidst all the chaos. Great service, great food, great memories. If you haven't tried Spanish food, Ba-Ba-Reeba is a great place to go. Have guests coming into Chicago? Hot date? Casual night out? Whatever the occasion, Ba-Ba-Reeba is sure to please.
Grade
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(1* - never come back, 2* - poor, 3* - good, 4* - excellent, 5* - perfect)
Ba-Ba-Reeba gets a 5*. Way to go! -
- Peter U.
- Bartlett, IL
- 61 friends
- 23 reviews
7/25/2015
1 check-inImmediate reaction after eating: stopped in at 2pm on a Sat, busy but we (party of 2) was seated immediately. I really wanted a paella and though the menu was half brunch and did not list the regular paella, had no problem ordering the chicken paella. Also we got the octopus, spicy potatoes and the buttermilk chicken. the tender octopus and the buttermilk chicken....whoa whoa!!! I started closing my eyes while eating those, the dishes were off the chain, I could have passed on the potatoes but they were great with the sauce...the paella came and was hot and the chicken was tender, too much Lima beans but that is just me....we also did a check in and got the free dessert and we picked flan from the dessert list. Nice small tapas size of flan perfect for 2 people to share, I am glad it didn't taste lipgloss cause flan sometimes can do that. We also had the passion fruit sangria and it was solid but not something I will likely remember..if you want good sangria go to nandos
Eat the octopus and buttermilk chicken, get the paella to fill up and take home. Service is professional and attentive and not overly friendly which is actually how I like it , glad I went and I ate it all and am taking paella home. -
- martin l.
- San Francisco, CA
- 7 friends
- 61 reviews
7/20/2015
We let the server pick our dishes and they were pretty amazing.
-scallops
-chicken/ham/cheese fried stick things
- caprese dish
- stuffed mushrooms
- beef something
- buffalo chicken pieces
I'm a generally unimpressed food-spoiled-I've-eaten-better/everywhere person and this was a great meal. Refreshing that they don't slack despite their popularity. -
- Selina C.
- Boston, MA
- 7 friends
- 24 reviews
6/1/2015
1 check-inUmm. This is tapas heaven.
If my stomach could live up to the challenge, I would totally order everything and eat it all but it can't and that makes me utterly depressed.
I walked in one evening with a friend and was kind of digging pretty much everything about the place.
We ordered the brussels sprout salad, spicy potatoes with tomato aioli, garlic potato salad, the short run with manchego mashed potatoes, citrus cured salmon, grilled iberico pork shoulder, and the paella valenciana. I also got the mango sangria which I loved since it didn't have a strong wine taste to it.
We loved both the potato tapas because well, starches are freaking delicious- loved the crispness of the spicy potatoes. The short rib was cooked beautifully tender and the paella had plenty of meat in it.
Service was excellent as well. Our waiter came by plenty of times to check up on us. They also served up the paella which was different for me.
I plan to return when I'm back in Chicago. Mmmmm-
Paella valenciana, spicy potatoes, grilled iberico pork shoulderPaella valenciana, spicy potatoes, grilled iberico pork shoulder - See all photos from Selina C. for Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
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2/18/2015
3 check-insHere's some of the things I had during my recent trip to Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba:
1. Passion Fruit Sangria was nice, fruity, refreshing. Everything a sangria should be.
2. Roast Dates with Bacon and Apple Vinaigrette. Still my favorite dish here. Vinaigrette is not overpowering at all. Delicious!
3. Fried potatoes had a nice kick to it. It could have been a little more crispy or fried. But the tomato aioli paired nicely with it.
4. Rioja-Braised Short Ribs - Pretty tender but pretty bland. Could have done without this dish.
5. Deviled Egg Pintxos - Incredibly salty.
6. Paella Valenciana was a tad too 'al dente' for me. It's unfortunate that if you're here on a date and want to try this, you must get a minimum of 2 servings. Two servings is enough for about 4-5 people, and with all those tapas to order, well you do the math. I was so stuffed I never wanted to eat again.
7. Butterscotch - My usual go-to-dessert from here, which is topped with salted caramel (hella salty, bleh) and a dollop of whipped cream. The butterscotch itself was pretty delicious.
Overall, this experience fell very short of the previous times I visited. Maybe it was an off night but it was enough to de-throne them from my 'Favorite Restaurants in Chicago' list. Bummer.
Business info summary
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- Today
- 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm Open now
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$$
- Price range
- $11-30
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Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See other places they like.
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Hours
| Mon | 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm | |
|---|---|---|
| Tue | 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm | |
| Wed | 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm | |
| Thu | 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Open now |
| Fri | 11:30 am - 12:00 am | |
| Sat | 9:00 am - 12:00 am | |
| Sun | 9:00 am - 10:00 pm |
Menu
- Spicy Potatoes
- 6.00
- Shrimp
- 8.00
- Patatas Bravas
- 2.00
More business info
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- Takes Reservations
- Yes
- Delivery
- Yes
- Take-out
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Yes
- Good For
- Dinner
- Parking
- Valet, Street
- Bike Parking
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Yes
- Good for Kids
- Yes
- Good for Groups
- Yes
- Attire
- Casual
- Ambience
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Average
- Alcohol
- Full Bar
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
- Wi-Fi
- Free
- Has TV
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed
- No
- Waiter Service
- Yes
- Caters
- Yes
From the business
Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!, Chicago's very first Spanish tapas restaurant, serves fresh, authentic Spanish cuisine in a lively, vibrant Latin atmosphere. You'll be tempted by award-winning sangria, …
Learn more about Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! , Opens a popupSpecialties
Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!, Chicago's very first Spanish tapas restaurant, serves fresh, authentic Spanish cuisine in a lively, vibrant Latin atmosphere. You'll be tempted by award-winning sangria, tapas (the famous small dishes of Spain), pintxos (one-bite appetizers from Northern Spain), as well as paella, a traditional Valencian rice dish made with combinations of vegetables, cheeses, meats and seafood. Don't miss the large all-season patio decorated with the sights and colors of Spain. Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! also features Flamenco Dinner Shows, Paella Cooking Demos, Wine Tastings and catering for private parties of all sizes. Cafe Ba Ba Reeba! is owned by Chef Gabino Sotelino and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises.
History
Established in 1985.
Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!, Chicago's very first Spanish tapas restaurant, serves fresh, authentic Spanish cuisine in a lively, vibrant Latin atmosphere. You'll be tempted by award-winning sangria, tapas (the famous small dishes of Spain), pintxos (one-bite appetizers from Northern Spain), as well as paella, a traditional Valencian rice dish made with combinations of vegetables, cheeses, meats and seafood. Don't miss the large all-season patio decorated with the sights and colors of Spain. Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! also features Flamenco Dinner Shows, Paella Cooking Demos, Wine Tastings and catering for private parties of all sizes.
Chef Gabino Sotelino, whose talents have led to command performances for King Juan Carlos, created Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! to reflect his love of la cocina de España (Spanish cuisine). Once you experience the distinct flavors of Spain, we bet you'll be in love too.
Meet the Business Owner
"Our authentic Spanish tapas and paella are served in small portions so you can explore all the different flavors of Spain.
Café Ba Ba Reeba is a part of me. Having been born in Spain and still spend quite a bit of time there, to me it represents a melding of cultures; from the Basque region of my mother and the Galician land of my father to all the rest of the regions that make up the country. Here, we represent Spain to you with all the color and inspiration of these cultures in our food, our decor, and our service.
Whatever room you find yourself in, you are in the heart of the country of my youth. Our distinct wish is to appeal to the Spaniard in everyone. When you come to my restaurant for the sherry, the sangria, or the food, you will feel like I feel in my soul... the soul of Spain."
-Gabino Sotelino
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